The time it takes to apply to one open position can range drastically from 30 seconds to a full day, depending on your industry and field as well as the level. For many job seekers, finding a full-time job can be a full-time job in itself.
You want to set yourself apart from other candidates, so you craft cover letters and resumes to match the post. But you also want to be employed sometime soon, and spending hours on one application means fewer opportunities. So, how do you do both?
Picking the Open Positions Worth Your Time
Hundreds to thousands of jobs are available. And if you think you have to apply to as many as possible, you have a volume-based mindset. On the other hand, a value-based mindset means you’re more selective in which applications are worth your time.
Before your hours turn into months of mass applying, figure out what you need from a job. After all, what’s the point of applying to a position that doesn’t pay enough, is below your expertise, is with a company with different values, or even doesn’t help your career trajectory? Write down the answers to the following questions:
- What is the absolute minimum my household needs to cover housing, utilities, and basic nutrition? And what realistic amount will let me live the lifestyle I want?
- What title bridges the gap in my career? What is the one high-level skill that I am currently missing to reach my 5-year goal?
- Do I want to be in management or an individual contributor? Which path currently gives me more energy?
- Do I thrive in a high-intensity environment, or do I require a hard out at 5:00 PM to show up as my best self for my family?
- Is remote/office/hybrid work a nice-to-have or a structural necessity for my current life stage? How far, or how much time, am I willing to commute?
- Can I work for a company whose product I find boring if the compensation is high, or do I require a higher purpose to stay engaged?
Finding a job that suits your needs is a time saver, even if it takes you longer to apply for or get. Because working in a position that doesn’t pay enough or leads to burnout means you’ll be back on the job market sooner than you hope.
Finding Jobs That Fit Your Needs
So, now that you know what to look for, you need to find these positions. Many job boards give you the ability to narrow down the possibilities by experience level, employment type, field, location, and whether it’s in-person, remote, or hybrid.
However, if you are looking for a specific salary range or niche, then you might want to explore options that allow you to search by your specific criteria:
- Platforms that have the most listings – LinkedIn, Indeed, and Google Jobs
- Special interest and tech-specific job boards – Dice and Simplify.jobs
- High-salary and executive filtering sites – The Ladders, Remote100k, and Glassdoor
- Advance filtering employment portals – Himalayas, Remote Rocketship, Wellfound, and FlexJobs
Your time may be better spent searching for the right job than applying to a few that are almost what you are looking for. When you are excited about a position, that feeling can come across in your cover letter and communication.
Tailoring Your Resume Without Starting Over Each Time
Customizing your resume to match the job you’re applying for is a great way to improve your chances of a response. However, you don’t need to create a new one from scratch every time. Instead, create your master copy: a multi-page document that includes every responsibility, proficiency, and win you’ve ever had.
When you find a high-value posting, save a new copy and carve out anything that doesn’t directly speak to that specific job description. By focusing on subtraction rather than addition, you can produce a highly targeted, one-page document in twenty minutes rather than two hours.
How to Use AI Without Sounding Like You Used AI
It’s tempting to let AI write everything, but it’s your personal proficiency and human touch that helps you stand out in the sea of applicants. The trick is to use AI as a research assistant to find what you’re missing by using prompts that directly reference your experience.
For instance, paste the job description and your resume/cover letter into your preferred tool and use the following prompts:
- Please identify the top 5 technical skills and top 3 soft skills this employer prioritizes based on the text. Then, tell me which of these are currently missing or under-emphasized in my resume.
- Based on this job description and their company mission (which is [Mission]), suggest 3 different hooks for the opening paragraph of my cover letter. One should focus on my past results, one on my alignment with their mission, and one on a specific problem I can solve for them.
- Please identify any sentences that are simply repeating my resume without adding new context. Then, suggest two places where I could insert a specific mini-story or achievement that demonstrates my [Specific Skill, e.g., ability to work under a hard 5:00 PM deadline].
- I want to send a short, professional LinkedIn message or email to the hiring manager for [Role] at [Company]. Based on the job description, what is the number one pain point this person is likely trying to solve by hiring for this position?
Use the output to adjust your phrasing, but don’t send a resume or cover letter that sounds like a robot wrote it. A single personal anecdote is the human polish that an algorithm simply can’t replicate.
Keep Fresh Eyes and a Sharp Mind While Job Hunting and Applying
To avoid exhausting yourself and sending out subpar resumes, you have to treat your search like a scheduled project. Decide on your peak energy hours (perhaps 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM) and dedicate that time to work on applications and outreach.
Once that window closes, stop. Filling out applications at 9:00 PM on the weekend rarely leads to a better career. It only leads to burnout and fatigue. Protect your mental energy so you can put your best foot forward.
By Admin –
